Friday, November 25, 2011

'Jacks deal Henke to Storm for Chlapik

The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced they have acquired forward Adam Chlapik and a second-round pick in the 2013 USHL Entry Draft in a trade with the Tri-City Storm.

In exchange, the Jacks sent rookie winger Josh Henke to the Storm.

Chlapik (pronounced CLAP-ick), a 6-foot, 185-pound center from the Czech Republic, has 12 goals and 22 points in his 58-game USHL career to date. The 17-year-old is in his first year eligible for the NHL Draft and was ranked as the seventh-best USHL prospect (59th overall) in August by Red Line Report.

“We are excited to get Adam in our lineup,” said Lumberjacks head coach-GM Kevin Patrick. “He’s a very intelligent player with a great understanding of the game.”

Chlapik has played internationally for the Czech Republic, wearing his nation’s colors for the Under-17 team. He skated for HC Sparta Praha for two seasons in the Czech U18 league before hopping the Atlantic to skate for the L.A. Jr. Kings in 2009-10.

“Adam possesses good offensive instincts and the ability to make plays,” Patrick said. “He has a high hockey IQ.”

The lefthanded-shooting Chlapik joined the Omaha Lancers last season and put up 15 points (nine goals) in his first 43 USHL contests. He was teammates with Lumberjacks goalie John Keeney while in Omaha until being dealt to Tri-City on Oct. 14.

Chlapik is expected to join the team at some point this weekend as the Lumberjacks (7-7-0, 14 points) play two games on the road. Muskegon faces off with Green Bay at 8:05 p.m. Eastern time tonight and takes on Chicago at the same time Saturday.